taoCMS™ Demo Site: Sports

Sports

Wolves to open football season Friday

Posted 8/25/10 (Wed)

By Neal A. ShipmanFarmer Editor

The Watford City Wolves football team will be seeing some heavy action as they open their 2010 season with back-to-back games this week. The Wolves will host Stanley in their season opener at 7 p.m. on Friday at Fridley Field and then host Standing Rock at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
According to Fred Fridley, Wolves’ head coach, the Standing Rock contest is scheduled as a Junior Varsity game, but most of the varsity will be seeing action in the game.
“With two games we will see a lot of players and what we need to improve on individually and as a team,” stated Fridley.
Fridley’s Wolves will be returning most of the starters from last year’s squad that fell to Velva in the Class A semifinals, so expectations are running high among the players that this could be the year that they will make it all the way to the State Championship game.
“The team’s strengths appear to be in the backfield, linebacker and secondary with quickness and experience, but we will be lacking in size,” states Fridley. “Our offensive and defensive lines will be a key on how well we do. We have a lot of players that will play and help our football team.”
Fridley also notes that with the quickness of his punt and kickoff returners, he expects to see some big plays from his special teams.
“If we want to be a playoff team, the two areas that will be a key is our line play on both sides of the ball,” states Fridley. “Trey Jacobson is running the offense and throwing the ball very well in preseason. His receivers have quickness and he can choose from Nick Liebel, Tyler Flatland, Sterling Ross, Shawn Fulwider and our running backs.”
Fridley also feels that with his returning backfield, the Wolves will be able to spread the ball and have a balanced attack with running backs Brady Lund, Nolan Kalberer and Karson Knudtson.
“Any of these backs can make big plays for us this season,” states Fridley.
Clay Billing, Kyle Brown, and Ryan Monsen will be helping out at the running back and receiving positions.
Returning to the offensive line this year will be center Jake Thomas, guards Douglas Rolfson and Kalin Mogen, who moved from a fullback position; and tackles Douglas Rolfson and Bradlyn Fettig.
Defensively, the Wolves will be seeing the same players on the line with Austin Patten, Cole Rolfsrud, and Mitchell Liebel helping out.
“With the players we have, I anticipate for us to make the playoffs and be in the upper half of our region,” predicts Fridley. “The players have been working hard and have shown a great attitude, which is one of the keys of success.”